From Longo to Sagan: the all-time World Championship records

Jeannie Longo remains unrivalled in the women’s road race. Her five victories in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1995 span a decade and capture both her longevity and authority. Behind her, Belgium’s Yvonne Reynders collected four titles in 1959, 1961, 1963 and 1966, ensuring her place in the sport’s early pantheon.

The men’s record reads like a roll call of icons. Alfredo Binda (1927, 1930, 1932), Rik Van Steenbergen (1949, 1956, 1957), Eddy Merckx (1967, 1971, 1974), Óscar Freire (1999, 2001, 2004) and Peter Sagan (2015, 2016, 2017) each lifted the rainbow jersey three times. 

Among the current peloton, Julian Alaphilippe (2020, 2021) is a current active rider who could equal the tally of the 5 iconic riders as he has won two, respectively.

The race against the clock has its own rulers. Fabian Cancellara, with wins in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010, and Tony Martin, victorious in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016, are tied at four apiece, their dominance defining a generation of time trialling.

On the women’s side, the familiar name of Jeannie Longo resurfaces. She claimed four titles here as well, in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001, cementing her as the most complete rider of her age.

Belgium holds the men’s record with 27 road race victories, its legacy shaped by giants such as Eddy Merckx, “the Cannibal” (1967, 1971, 1974), Rik Van Steenbergen, “the Boss” (1949, 1956, 1957) and, more recently, Remco Evenepoel, “the Aero Bullet” (2022).

The Netherlands lead the way in the elite women’s road race with 14 rainbow jerseys, aided by Marianne Vos (2006, 2012, 2013), Anna van der Breggen (2018, 2020) and Annemiek van Vleuten (2019, 2022).

Germany has the record for the most wins in the time-trial classification in the men's with 7, whilst the Netherlands holds the record in the women's with 8.

To win once is glory, to win again and again is the mark of control. In the men’s road race, Peter Sagan alone achieved the hat-trick, winning in Richmond 2015, Doha 2016 and Bergen 2017. His streak stands above the many who managed only two in succession.

In the women’s event, Longo again towers over history. She won in Giavera del Montello 1985, Colorado Springs 1986, Villach 1987 and Chambéry 1989, with only the absence of a race in 1988 breaking the sequence.

The time trial has also seen dynasties. Michael Rogers claimed three in a row from 2003 to 2005, while Tony Martin repeated the feat between 2011 and 2013. In the women’s event, Ellen van Dijk added her name to the lineage with back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

Topping the table in total medals (men and women) across the history of the UCI Road World Championships is Italy, with 147 medals in total, 54 of them gold.

A significant margin behind are Belgium, with 105 medals including 41 gold, followed closely by their neighbours the Netherlands, who have amassed 102 medals, 39 of them gold.

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